Ovarian Cancer

(asked on 8th February 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the ovarian cancer-specific service specification submitted for approval by the Complex Gynaecological Services Clinical Reference Group in 2015.


Answered by
 Portrait
David Mowat
This question was answered on 20th February 2017

In order for NHS England to formally consider a new or revised service specification, a number of associated reports and processes need to be completed. The Complex Gynaecological Services Clinical Reference Group (CRG) did start the process of developing a new service specification for ovarian cancer, however, it did not complete the process. The CRG encountered technical difficulties during the Impact Assessment stage including issues identifying activity and the associated financial impact.

In the subsequent period, CRGs have been restructured and the responsibility for this clinical area now resides with the Specialised Cancer Surgery CRG, within the National Cancer Programme of Care. In addition, NHS England has also published a revised process for service specification development (titled: ‘Methods’), which can be found at:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/key-docs/

The Methods sets out the process for completing service specification work and, in accordance with this process, the Specialised Cancer Surgery CRG has been asked to consider progressing this work. It is expected that the first step of the process will be completed by the end of February 2017.

Reticulating Splines